Wood or Silverware?

I have a confession.  I have been with someone while I have dated Mike.  Quite clearly, myself; but also, another entity with whom this month indicates I've spent 5 years.  All right, it's more of a knowing, or a meaning, rather than a thing or person...it's the practice of yoga!  And apparently, on a 5-year anniversary, the traditional/modern gift is wood/silverware.  Not sure what I could do regarding silverware for my mat, towel, and peaceful understanding of "Om," but wood is something I may be able to symbolically represent with this amazing love affair of mine.


I have all but one time practiced yoga on a wooden floor, which thus supported my mat/body.  [The one outstanding practice was a park-group-meditation, pretty neat!]  When I first began yoga, this wooden base offered me solace and comfort in child's pose, and the beloved, arguably most important pose of, Savasana (corpse's pose).  It was something my first teachers reminded me of - that Mother Nature, the earth, and our Universe supports us if we trust in its knowing and foundation.  So, in truth, the gift of wood is something that yoga has provided me time and time again.  My presenting of wood to yoga, may have happened yesterday while the class attempted Vriksasana (tree pose).  During this balancing sequence, my 5 years worth of yogic mindset and triumph across the various asanas allowed me to stand evenly, strongly, and proudly with arms raised high.  Next week, I might not be able to lift my arms as such, or each leg on either side, but it doesn't matter.  The "wood" of my tree balancing fluctuates just as any tree does in the wind, and just as any student of yoga understands that our practice must journey ups and downs, and even sideways at times!  Below are some other most helpful lessons that yoga has taught me.  In both my practice and in my life.  If you have thought about taking up yoga, I would absolutely encourage you to do so!  Its power is a self-realization, and how incredible is it to embrace the capability of internal empowerment?!  Thank you, yoga; Namaste!


-exist within the present moment (you are already here)
-the hardest part of yoga is getting onto the mat (you are already here)
-embrace what is, and do not hurt yourself to reach a pose (or goal)
-meditate
-BREATHE
-sit with yourself more often to listen to your body
-the longer you sit with yourself, the more your body shares with you (and adjusts to feel at peace)
-let go
-mind and body are one
-BREATHE
-thoughts create action, and actions perpetuate thoughts (you are more in control of this than you may believe)
-embrace your creative side
-allow modifications to help your process
-push, but do not harm (yourself or others)
-you are resilient and capable of many things